Filter element provided with an ascending pipe

ABSTRACT

A filter element is provided with an ascending pipe and a filter material subject to soiling and is supported by a supporting pipe. The filter material is separable from the ascending pipe such that the multi-component ascending pipe can be reused and to reduce the weight of hazardous waste to be disposed of when the soiled filter material has been changed. The ascending pipe is provided at least on one of its ends with a reception for the filter material in such a manner that the filter material with the supporting pipe as one assembly ( 22 ) and with the ascending pipe ( 10 ) as another component are detachable coupled, allowing the exchange of the soiled filter material by new filter material while keeping the ascending pipe. The filter element can be assembled during production with less effort, thereby allowing for a reduction of costs.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a filter element with an ascending pipeand to a filter material surrounding the ascending pipe, arranged to besubjected to becoming soiled. The filter is supported on a supportingpipe which is separate from the ascending pipe.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In the known, commercially available solutions, the ascending pipetogether with the filter material adjacent to the supporting pipe formsa one-part assembly. When the filter material becomes soiled, the entirefilter element must be replaced, along with the valuable component partsof the ascending pipe. Since the valuable component parts of theascending pipe have materials different from the respective filtermaterial to be disposed of, problems arise concerning the recycling ordisposal of parts involved in the conventional solutions. Since filterelements are to be replaced in frequent time cycles when filtermaterials become soiled, the quantity of waste is relatively large andof great weight, all of which is to be handled with the waste disposal.Furthermore, with the conventional solutions the filter material isfrequently welded together with the ascending pipe, which inmanufacturing technology is expensive and cost-intensive.

DE-A-44 09 070 discloses supporting bodies for filter elements includinga supporting pipe brought into contact with the filter material in theform of a filter mat. The supporting pipe for the flowthrough of afiltered medium is provided with a plurality of uniformly distributedperipherally arranged openings. Rigidification of the supporting pipecan additionally be provided on the interior periphery by a ring and rodconstruction, with the interior of the supporting pipe divided intoindividual fluid-carrying chambers. The filtration charge of therelevant filter element can be increased by virtue of the supportingpipe, since the filter element can be subjected to higher pressuresduring the flowthrough. The supporting pipe supports the filter materialcounter to the relevant flowthrough direction, and in that mannerprevents buckling in and out of the filter material. Such solutionsgenerally include no ascending pipe, which is present as an independenttubular structural part adjacent to the supporting pipe in the filterelement according to the type of filter element in use. Such ascendingpipes make passage available counter to the supporting pipes. Theascending pipe flow is through uniformly distributed openings in a highnumber comparable to a perforation, but is only through selectedthrough-passage points, for example in the foot area of the ascendingpipe, or in the longitudinal midpoint area of the ascending pipe whichis being used. Otherwise, the ascending pipe has a closed, preferablycylindrical cover surface, which has the advantage that the fluid to befiltered can be collected first in the ascending pipe before it leavesthe ascending pipe to pass through a filtration process, by flowingsubsequently through the filter material with the supporting pipe.Detrimental pressure swings in the hydraulic system can be avoided byuse of this type of ascending pipe. Particularly with the adjoiningfiltration, the assembly leads to uniform distribution and consequentialuniform load on the pressure applications to the filter material withsupporting pipe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Objects of the present invention are to provide an improved filterelement that can be easily disposable or recyclable, and that can bemanufactured at low cost by a simple manufacturing method.

According to the present invention, the ascending pipe, on at least oneof its ends, is provided with a receiving area to receive the filtermaterial. A detachable connection between the filter material withsupporting pipe is provided as one structural assembly. The ascendingpipe is provided as a different structural assembly, while retaining theascending pipe. This arrangement allows for exchange of the soiledfilter material for a new filter material. The costly ascending pipeconstruction can be used again. The weight of the hazardous waste to bedisposed of following the exchange of the then soiled filter materialwith supporting pipe is lowered. With construction of the filter elementin detachable structural assemblies, the assembly outlay for themanufacture is reduced and consequently produces cost savings.

Other objects, advantages and salient features of the present inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description, which,taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring to the drawings which form a part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a partial front elevational view partially in section of anascending pipe as one structural assembly according to an embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial front elevational view in section of a filtermaterial formed as another and separate structural assembly according toan embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a partial front elevational view in section of an assembly ofthe ascending pipe of FIG. 1 and the filter material of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The filter element, shown in the drawings, includes an ascending pipe 10and a filter material 12 being subjected to soiling and surrounding theascending pipe 10. Ascending pipe 10 forms essentially a hollowcylinder, into which is guided or conveyed the fluid to be filtered.Such fluid passes through openings 14 out of ascending pipe 10 andenters into the interior 16 of the filter element (FIG. 3). The fluidthen flows from the interior to the exterior through the filter element,penetrating filter material 12. The contaminant particles in the fluidare filtered out through filter material 12 and remain in filtermaterial 12.

To increase the pressure stability of filter material 12, a supportingpipe 18 can be built in a traditional structure around the filtermaterial exterior periphery. Filter material 12 is configured as a sortof hollow cylinder. The resulting structuring of filter material 12 isdescribed in the art of traditional filter elements, and therefore, isnot to be described in greater detail herein.

As seen in the drawings, ascending pipe 10 has a receiving area 20 forfilter material 12, at its bottom end. Preferably, the receiving area 20is securely joined by welding to the metallic ascending pipe 10. As isclear from FIGS. 1 to 3, a detachable connection is provided betweenfilter material 12 as one structural assembly 22 and ascending pipe 10as a separate structural assembly. Ascending pipe 10 can be retained forfurther and repeated use as a valuable component, while the soiledfilter material 12 is exchanged for new filter material 12. Filtermaterial 12 is to be separated from ascending pipe 10.

Receiving area 20, represented at the bottom in the drawings, includesan annular recessed groove 26, into which filter material 12 is receivedwith its sealing part 28 at the front and flush therewith. Sealing part28 is provided on its exterior periphery with a sealing gasket 30 toform an exterior seal between filter material 12 and receiving area 20.Receiving area 20 also has an annular sealing gasket 32 at the front toform a seal at the housing parts 34 (FIG. 3) provided for securing thefilter element. Housing parts 34, together with the other housing parts36, form the partially represented border of a tank or the like, intowhich the filter element can be placed, as shown in FIG. 3.

Receiving area 20 is provided on its interior periphery with a threadedcoupling 38, arranged to form the screw connection 40 with housing parts34. For this purpose, housing parts 34 have a cylindrical hollowextension 42 adjacent to the filter element, with a stepped wideningout, which forms the counter-threading for screw connection 40. Thefluid flows in through the top opening of the filter element passinginto the filter element. In the bottom opening 35 of the housing part, aspring-biased return valve can be provided, not to be described ingreater detail herein, which renders operative a conventional bypassfunction when filter material 12 no longer allows passage of the fluidto be filtered because of the steadily progressing soiling of the filtermaterial.

Ascending pipe 10 is provided with another receiving area 44 on itsother end. Receiving area 44 incorporates a flange or widened-out area46 with an end plate 48 for the frontal contact. The additionalreceiving area 44 of ascending pipe 10 is provided with a threadedsegment 50 having an interior threading, into which is screwed orthreaded a cap-like fixing member 52 for connecting filter material 12with ascending pipe 10 by means of the fixing member exterior threading.Because of this screwing process, the axial spacing between flange-likewidened-out area 46 and receiving area 20 can be varied as needed.Particularly such spacing can be narrowed insofar as filter element 12is to be secured between these clamping points on ascending pipe 10.

End plate 48 of filter material 12 is widened out at its free end like acrosspiece or bar, and, in the direction of filter element 12, holds anannular sealing gasket 54. Gasket 54 engages, in the assembledarrangement (FIG. 3), on top of the additional top housing parts 36 andseals the exterior environment from the interior 56 limited by housingparts 34, 36, preferably in the form of the interior of a tank. Filtermaterial 12 is connected securely with end plate 48, as well as withsealing part 28, by means of an adhesive connection 58, shown in FIG. 2but deleted from FIG. 3 for improvement of the clarity of the drawing.Filter material 12 preferably is incinerable or recyclable materials, inorder to simplify the disposal process.

For assembly of filter element 12, fixing part 52 is first removed fromthreaded segment 50 of ascending pipe 10. Filter material 12 can beexchanged, whereupon the soiled filter material 12 is withdrawn bypulling it from receiving area 20 of ascending pipe 10. The new filtermaterial 12 is then secured therein by means of fixing part 52, with itsflange or widened-out area 46 on ascending pipe 10. The compositeassembly generated in this manner is fitted into the opening of housingpart 36. The filter element is sealed onto housing part 36 by means ofsealing gasket 54, which is biased by a not shown spring.

With the filter element according to the present invention, reuse of theconstructively costly ascending pipe 10 is guaranteed. A notablelowering of the weight of hazardous waste to be disposed of followingthe exchange of filter material 12 is attained, since this remainssimply to be separated and disposed of. As a result, simple manufactureof the filter element is attained using favorable manufacturingtechnology for this purpose. It has been proven as particularlyadvantageous to use the filter element of the present invention inhydraulic pumps and to connect these in series in fluid flow direction.A pressure valve can be present particularly within ascending pipe 10,which is not to be described in greater detail, allowing for increasedpressure to be applied within the ascending pipe, for example in therange of from 0.5 to 1 bar. With reference to this pressure beingproduced, which can also be set even higher, and as a result of thepartial supply of the volume of fluid to be filtered in the ascendingpipe, the induction by suction into the hydraulic pump, not shown, issimplified. Also, a uniform volumetric filling level in relation to thesupplied volume can be attained.

While one embodiment has been chosen to illustrate the invention, itwill be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications can be made therein without departing from the scope ofthe invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A filter element, comprising: a filter materialsubjectable to soiling and supported by a supporting pipe as a firststructural assembly, said filter material having a first seating partwith a first sealing gasket on an exterior periphery thereof; anascending pipe formed as a second structural assembly separate form saidfirst structural assembly and surrounded by said filter material, afirst end of said ascending pipe having a first receiving area for saidfilter material, said ascending pipe extending along an entire length ofsaid filter material and having outside openings; a detachableconnection between said first and second structural assembliespermitting maintaining of said ascending pipe when a soiled filtermaterial is exchanged for a new filter material, said detachableconnection including in said first receiving area an annular recessedgroove receiving said first sealing part, said first sealing gasketforming a seal with said first receiving area; and a second sealinggasket on a front side of said first receiving area for forming a sealwith a housing part to which the filter element is attached.
 2. A filterelement according to claim 1 wherein said first receiving area comprisesan internally threaded member for forming a screw connection with thehousing part.
 3. A filter element according to claim 1 wherein saidascending pipe comprises a second receiving area on an opposite secondend thereof, said second receiving area having a laterally extendingflange contacting an end plate on said filter material.
 4. A filterelement according to claim 3 wherein said second receiving areacomprises a threaded segment on which a fixing part is threaded forconnecting said filter material with said ascending pipe.
 5. A filterelement according to claim 4 wherein said end plate on said filtermaterial comprises a sealing part on a free end thereof to seal aninterior of the housing part from an outside environment.
 6. A filterelement according to claim 3 wherein said end plate on said filtermaterial comprises a sealing part on a free end thereof to seal aninterior of the housing part from an outside environment.
 7. A filterelement according to claim 6 wherein said end plate is securelyconnected to said filter material by an adhesive connection.
 8. A filterelement according to claim 5 wherein said end plate is securelyconnected to said filter material by an adhesive connection.
 9. A filterelement according to claim 1 wherein said supporting pipe is an exteriorof said filter material.
 10. A filter element according to claim 1wherein said filter material is formed of incinerable or recyclablematerials.
 11. A filter element according to claim 1 wherein saidoutside openings are at axial ends of said ascending pipe, and areoutside axial ends of said filter material.
 12. A filter elementaccording to claim 3 wherein said first and second receiving areas areoutside of axial ends of said filter material.